Reservoir levels low in parts of South West and Midlands

Reservoir levels in parts of England are at their lowest on record for this time of year, with some sites at only half their average long-term storage, according to new figures.

Haweswater and Thirlmere in Cumbria are at 49% of their typical capacity due to a combination of dry weather and planned maintenance, while the Pennines group of reservoirs is down to 48%.

Whilst the Dee system in north Wales, which supplies many areas of the North West of England, has been affected by a lack of rainfall and a planned lowering of water for safety reasons, leaving it at 75% of capacity - a level classed by the Environment Agency as "exceptionally low".

Storage across England as a whole stood at 77% at the end of May, down from 84% at the end of April and the lowest on record for the time of year - though some sites have reported normal or above normal levels.

In the South West and Midlands, most reservoir supplies are 'below normal', with just one site in Cornwall 'above normal'.

Here is a full list of reservoir storage at the end of May 2025, as published by the Environment Agency.

- Exceptionally low

Blagdon (Somerset): 73%

Blithfield (Staffordshire): 72%

Dee System (North Wales): 75%

Derwent Valley (Derbyshire): 65%

Haweswater & Thirlmere (Cumbria): 49%

Pennines Group 48%

Yorkshire Supply Group: 62%

- Notably low

Elan Valley Group (Powys): 68%

Kielder (Northumberland): 81%

Teesdale Group (County Durham): 69%

- Below normal

Ardingly (West Sussex): 88%

Bough Beech (Kent): 84%

Carsington & Ogston (Derbyshire): 86%

Chew Valley (Somerset): 82%

Clatworthy (Somerset): 79%

Clywedog (Powys): 93%

Colliford (Cornwall): 79%

Dove Group (Derbyshire): 92%

Grafham (Cambridgeshire): 91%

Rutland (Rutland): 89%

Wimbleball (Somerset): 82%

- Normal

Abberton (Essex): 93%

Bewl (Kent/East Sussex): 82%

Draycote (Warwickshire): 92%

Hanningfield (Essex): 92%

Lower Lee Group (north London): 93%

Lower Thames Group (Berkshire/west London): 94%

Roadford (Devon): 90%

Vyrnwy (Powys): 87%

- Above normal

Stithians (Cornwall) 94%

- Notably high

Farmoor (Oxfordshire): 99%

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